THE PLAYERS CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS OPENS THE
BACKSTAGE AT THE PLAYERS SEASON WITH ENCHANTING “ALMOST, MAINE”
Sarasota, Oct. 7, 2016 – The Players Centre for Performing Arts opens their exciting Backstage at the Players season on Oct. 19 with John Cariani’s whimsical, romantic comedy Almost, Maine. Offering a different fare than the Wilde Broadway Series, The Backstage at the Players lineup presents cutting edge, contemporary American plays in an intimate black-box setting. The audience gets an up close and personal view of the emotions from these actors, in shows that handle heavier subject matter.
As we head into the holiday season Almost, Maine offers a collection of nine stories about the residents of a mythical town called Almost, Maine. These relationships involve love, loss and feelings that are almost there. British Theatre Guide said of Almost, Maine, “Charming without being saccharine or sentimental. Touches of wistful sadness and gentle humour…flower into hilarity.” The Guardian said, “Romantic whimsy meets magic realism. Imagine ‘Love Actually’ crossed with ‘Our Town.’”
Story: Welcome to Almost, Maine, a town that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States — it’s almost in Canada. Also, it almost doesn’t exist, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So, it’s just…Almost.
One cold, clear Friday night while the northern lights hover in the sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in the strangest ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. Love is lost, found and confounded. And life for the people of Almost, Maine will never be the same.
Resident Costume Shop Manager Jared Walker is handling costumes, set design and sound design by our resident Technical Director Ken Junkins, with lighting design by Christina Shollenberger and Alyssa Goudy. Props are being secured by Donna DeFant.
Performance Dates:
Oct. 19 – Oct. 30, 2016
Oct. 19-22 and 25-29, 2016 at 8pm
Oct. 23 and 30 at 2pm
Tickets:
$18
Purchase of entire Backstage Season of 3 shows is $45
Subscription package includes Almost, Maine; Next Fall and God of Carnage
Cast:
Pete, Man – Brett Anglin
Ginette, Sandrine – Jaimi McPeek
East, Dave – Joseph Smith
Glory, Hope – Samantha Hall
Waitress, Rhonda – Cindy Schlotterback
Marvalyn – Donna DeFant
Steve, Randy – Derek Dutcher
Chad – Drew Denninger
Gayle – Grace Vitale
Lendall – Philip Troyer
Phil – John Forsyth
Marci – Cinda Goeken
Crew:
Director – Sara Logan
Stage Manager – Chuck Conlon
Technical Director – Ken Junkins
Lighting Design – Christina Shollenberger & Alyssa Goudy
Costumes – Jared Walker
Props – Donna DeFant
Promotional photos will be available October 10th. Please contact Jason R. White at [email protected] to obtain these.
The Players Centre For Performing Arts
838 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota FL 34236, 941-365-2494, Fax: 941-954-0282
www.theplayers.org. Box Office: Mon-Sat, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and one hour prior to curtain time.
The Players Box Office is located on Tamiami Trail between 10th Street and Blvd. of the Arts.
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